Reply to MCPS Parents -- What would you tell teachers if you could?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]If parents knew what went on in public schools in America we would say that we appreciate teachers sacrifice and we wish our schools had a sustainable supportive system so teachers could be looked at as professionals and not have their careers ruined by mismanagement and political corruption.[/quote]

Sacrifice? [/quote]

Yes. Sacrifice.

I sacrifice every weekend of the school year to get my grading done. I sacrifice time with my own family to be prepared every work day. I sacrifice my own health since I can’t take easy leave to make it to appointments. I sacrifice my own money to purchase supplies - even classroom sets of books - for my classroom.

So yes, we sacrifice. And if we choose not to by demanding a work/life balance, we are told we are uncommitted and lazy.

100% of the teachers who have quit my school in the last 3 years have said they are leaving because they are tired of the emotional, physical, and financial toll. Most have gone on to jobs that pay more and require fewer hours. Those of us who are remaining (for now) see this. We’re also thinking of jumping ship because we know it can be done.[/quote]

You understand this is the job you agreed to.  You are welcome to find a different profession, which is why many leave.  If you feel its best to jump ship, it sounds like a good move for you.[/quote]

Most teachers I know do everything online, so there's almost 0 grading. Also, most are chronically absent.  I just don't get all this complaining by people who work at best 160 real days a year with all the personal days off.[/quote]

Okay. Let’s say I have 140 students in my class. When they submit papers, I now have 140 papers to comment on and score. Let’s assume it takes an average of 15 minutes a paper. That’s 30 HOURS of uninterrupted grading. I don’t get ANY additional time at work to get this done. If I only use my paltry 30 minutes of uninterrupted time during the work day, it’s going to take me 60 work days to get those graded and I won’t be using planning periods to plan, grade other assignments, answer emails, eat lunch, attend meetings, or do anything else I have to get done during that time.

Therefore, I have to use my weekends. I devote a Friday and ALL DAY Saturday and Sunday to getting them done so I can return them in a week. I hate that I have to do that, but the alternative is students will wait for many weeks before they get that paper back. How can they learn from mistakes and grow if I take that much time?

That’s what I want parents to know. When you see papers come home with comments, that happened on a teacher’s Friday night or on a Saturday when she missed her own child’s sporting event to grade.

This is ultimately why I’ll be quitting. The workload isn’t sustainable. If I want to be the teacher the students deserve, I have to give up too much. I’m starting to resent it, and I’m starting to take back my life. That’s why I won’t be assigning so many papers in AP, and that’s why your children won’t get as much instruction and writing support.[/quote]

You need to go to your child's event.  Stop using that as an excuse.  If you are a rare teacher who gives feedback, then thank you, but you are a very rare teacher if you do.[/quote]

I give extensive feedback on every essay. Students can only learn to write if they are given the chance to review mistakes and revise. That’s how I learned, and it’s what our students need. It just isn’t sustainable unless teachers are given time to do it.

You say I’m one of the few who still do it, and you’re correct. Most of my colleagues have demanded a work/life balance. They’re correct, and I’m joining them. It means more students are going to go without, but the alternative is I quit. I figure it’s better for me to be there doing less than for students to have yet another long term sub.[/quote]

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